How much should I feed my Chihuahua pup?

I went with wet food, since she's still so little, but now I have no idea how much or how often I should feed her.

The tin says 1 tray per 5lbs, so can I just give her 1/5 of a tray? And is that per day or per meal? And how many meals?

She's 8 weeks old and I keep getting conflicting information. Some specialists say 3 times a day, others say 4. Anybody know the general rule of thumb on this one?

Puppies generally need feeding smaller meals more frequently.

Amount will vary on how active your pup is - start with the recommended amount as per the instructions and keep an eye on her weight.

If the instructions are not clear on your product, it might be worth getting a different one - it generally says the amount per meal.

Your puppy's breeder should provide you with a diet sheet and all the info you need to feed your new puppy (usually a little of the food that she has been reared on). It is not wise to change her diet too quickly, as being a tiny she will have enough going on in her life just settling in to a new home. When you do make changes, do it gradually to avoid any digestive upsets.
What an exciting day you will have. I'm quite jealous. I hope she grows to become all you want in a dog.

I agree with not changing her diet too drastically. I have read that really small dogs can get hypoglycemia if they are not fed enough so that would incline me to feed a small dog, especially a chihuahua, 4 times a day. I have fed my large breed pups 3 times a day, so to me that would make sense.

Maybe you can get in touch with the person you got the pup from and see what they were feeding and how often, etc.

Thanks everyone! Yeah, I was given a huge bag of the food she's been on and instructed to mix them in equal parts. They feed her 4 times a day, so that's what I'm going with.

I have a pack of Chihuahua's. What I do is leave dry food available all day when they are puppies. Three times a day I feed wet food or left overs, but in small amounts. When young they are prone to hypoglycemia so I make sure there is always something in their stomach. I also use low sodium green beans and other vegetables as treats.

Sweet veggies like carrots or parsnips or beets will help fend off hypoglycaemia. Try chopping them into little, Chih sized bits and freezing them-- the frozen chewy will help with teething as well! Many puppies love an icy treat.

If you're worried about stains, though... I'd be cautious with the beetroot

Hi Othala, Some of the ingredients that should be kept to a minimum in a Chihuahua dog food are food dyes, preservatives, filler products(such as corn and low-quality grains), corn gluten, wheat gluten, sugar, corn syrup, animal fat. Feeding a chihuahua depends on its weight. For example: Start with half the amount for a 3 pound puppy divided into 3 meals a day. Since your dog is smaller, you should feed him 3 cups a day and if he finishes his food in the morning give him 2 cups at night and a canned food.

My 4 month old Chi/Min Pin mix gets fed 3 times a day. 1/4 cup each meal. Mostly kibble. Wet food from time to time. I'll give her a small carrot to chew on sometimes. She gets Wellness Small Breed Complete for puppies. She didn't like the shape of the kibble, so I started adding about tablespoon of low sodium chicken broth to soften it up and she ate it right up.

*I also add a tiny bit of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to it for her skin & coat.

Good luck with your lil one!